A young eagle displays its skills during the demonstration organised by the Dutch police.
Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Dutch police are adopting a centuries-old pursuit to resolve the modern-day problem of increasing numbers of drones in the skies, becoming the world’s first force to employ eagles as winged warriors.

“It’s a low-tech solution to a high-tech problem,” police spokesman Dennis Janus said as officers and their feathered friends gave their first public demonstration of the birds’ prowess.

A series of tests have been organised since early 2015, and the Dutch forces announced Monday that the results had been good.

The eagles will now be launched whenever drones are believed to be posing a danger to the public, such as during sensitive state visits or if the remote-controlled tiny craft are flying too close to airports.

In the meantime, the police will use birds supplied by a specialist company, Guard From Above.

As in other countries, increasing numbers of drones are invading Dutch skies, raising concerns in places such as airports and restricted, sensitive areas.

“We haven’t found any other method to intercept the drones, but we are continuing to explore other possibilities,” Janus said, pointing to such things as nets or finding ways to electronically take control of the drones.